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guns that would shoot either shot or ball； a bull's…eye lantern；
matches and their pistols。
Hans walked with them a little way and； leaving them outside the town；
returned。
〃Why do you look so gloomy； Hans？〃 I asked。
〃Because； Baas；〃 he answered； twiddling his hat； 〃I had grown to be
fond of the white man； Bena； who was always very kind to me and did
not treat me like dirt as low…born whites are apt to do。 Also he
cooked well； and now I shall have to do that work which I do not
like。〃
〃What do you mean； Hans？ The man isn't dead； is he？〃
〃No； Baas； but soon he will be； for the shadow of death is in his
eyes。〃
〃Then how about Lord Ragnall？〃
〃I saw no shadow in his eyes； I think that he will live； Baas。〃
I tried to get some explanation of these dark sayings out of the
Hottentot； but he would add nothing to his words。
All the following night I lay awake filled with heavy fears which
deepened as the hours went on。 Just before dawn we heard a knocking on
our door and Ragnall's voice whispering to us to open。 Hans did so
while I lit a candle； of which we had a good supply。 As it burned up
Ragnall entered； and from his face I saw at once that something
terrible had happened。 He went to the jar where we kept our water and
drank three pannikin…fuls； one after the other。 Then without waiting
to be asked； he said：
〃Savage is dead；〃 and paused a while as though some awful recollection
overcame him。 〃Listen；〃 he went on presently。 〃We worked up the hill…
side without firing； although we saw plenty of partridges and one
buck； till just as twilight was closing in； we came to the cliff face。
Here we perceived a track that ran to the mouth of a narrow cave or
tunnel in the lava rock of the precipice； which looked quite
unclimbable。 While we were wondering what to do； eight or ten white…
robed men appeared out of the shadows and seized us before we could
make any resistance。 After talking together for a little they took
away our guns and pistols； with which some of them disappeared。 Then
their leader； with many bows； indicated that we were at liberty to
proceed by pointing first to the mouth of the cave； and next to the
top of the precipice； saying something about '/ingane/；' which I
believe means a little child； does it not？〃
I nodded； and he went on：
〃After this they all departed down the hill； smiling in a fashion that
disturbed me。 We stood for a while irresolute； until it became quite
dark。 I asked Savage what he thought we had better do； expecting that
he would say 'Return to the town。' To my surprise； he answered：
〃'Go on； of course； my lord。 Don't let those brutes say that we white
men daren't walk a step without our guns。 Indeed； in any case I mean
to go on； even if your lordship won't。'
〃Whilst he spoke he took a bull's…eye lantern from his foodbag； which
had not been interfered with by the Kendah； and lit it。 I stared at
him amazed； for the man seemed to be animated by some tremendous
purpose。 Or rather it was as though a force from without had got hold
of his will and were pushing him on to an unknown end。 Indeed his next
words showed that this was so； for he exclaimed：
〃'There is something drawing me into that cave； my lord。 It may be
death； I think it is death； but whatever it be； go I must。 Perhaps you
would do well to stop outside till I have seen。'
〃I stepped forward to catch hold of the man； who I thought had gone
mad； as perhaps was the case。 Before I could lay my hands on him he
had run rapidly to the mouth of the cave。 Of course I followed； but
when I reached its entrance the star of light thrown forward by the
bull's…eye lantern showed me that he was already about eight yards
down the tunnel。 Then I heard a terrible hissing noise and Savage
exclaiming： 'Oh！ my God！' twice over。 As he spoke the lantern fell
from his hand； but did not go out； because； as you know； it is made to
burn in any position。 I leapt forward and picked it from the ground；
and while I was doing so became aware that Savage was running still
farther into the depths of the cave。 I lifted the lantern above my
head and looked。
〃This was what I saw： About ten paces from me was Savage with his arms
outstretched and dancingyes； dancingfirst to the right and then to
the left； with a kind of horrible grace and to the tune of a hideous
hissing music。 I held the lantern higher and perceived that beyond
him； lifted eight or nine feet into the air； nearly to the roof of the
tunnel in fact； was the head of the hugest snake of which I have ever
heard。 It was as broad as the bottom of a wheelbarrowwere it cut off
I think it would fill a large wheelbarrowwhile the neck upon which
it was supported was quite as thick as my middle； and the undulating
body behind it； which stretched far away into the darkness； was the
size of an eighteen…gallon cask and glittered green and grey； lined
and splashed with silver and with gold。
〃It hissed and swayed its great head to the right； holding Savage with
cold eyes that yet seemed to be on fire； whereon he danced to the
right。 It hissed again and swayed its head to the left； whereon he
danced to the left。 Then suddenly it reared its head right to the top
of the cave and so remained for a few seconds； whereon Savage stood
still； bending a little forward； as though he were bowing to the
reptile。 Next instant； like a flash it struck； for I saw its white
fangs bury themselves in the back of Savage； who with a kind of sigh
fell forward on to his face。 Then there was a convulsion of those
shining folds； followed by a sound as of bones being ground up in a
steam…driven mortar。
〃I staggered against the wall of the cave and shut my eyes for a
moment； for I felt faint。 When I opened them again it was to see
something flat； misshapen； elongated like a reflection in a spoon；
something that had been Savage lying on the floor； and stretched out
over it the huge serpent studying me with its steely eyes。 Then I ran；
I am not ashamed to say I ran out of that horrible hole and far into
the night。〃
〃Small blame to you；〃 I said； adding： 〃Hans； give me some square…face
neat。〃 For I felt as queer as though I also had been in that cave with
its guardian。
〃There is very little more to tell；〃 went on Ragnall after I had drunk
the hollands。 〃I lost my way on the mountain…side and wandered for
many hours； till at last I blundered up against one of the outermost
houses of the town； after which things were easy。 Perhaps I should add
that wherever I went on my way down the mountain it seemed to me that
I heard people laughing at me in an unnatural kind of voice。 That's
all。〃
After this we sat silent for a long while； till at length Hans said in
his unmoved tone：
〃The light has come； Baas。 Shall I blow out the candle； which it is a
pity to waste？ Also； does the Baas wish me to cook the breakfast； now
that the snake devil is making his off Bena； as I